“You’re called to reach a city. You need to love your city.”
These words from Pastor John Siebeling, during his conversation with Dino Rizzo on the Unscripted podcast, reflect the heart of the Association of Related Churches (ARC). Recorded in Memphis, this episode showcases how ARC churches actively live out their mission by creatively meeting the needs of their local communities.
During the discussion, Siebeling and Rizzo share candid and open insights into the powerful ways ARC churches serve, emphasizing starting small but thinking big. One example they discuss is Serve Day—an annual event where thousands of volunteers take to the streets to meet community needs. In this case, 2,000 students joined together in Memphis to help their neighborhoods.
Serve Day is one way ARC churches show their love for the community. As Siebeling says, “What better expression of God’s love than to take 2,000 students into the streets of Memphis to serve?” For the Association of Related Churches, service isn’t a one-off event; it’s part of the culture woven into the DNA of their churches.
“Birthday in a Box”: A Simple but Powerful Idea
One particularly creative outreach mentioned in the episode is called “Birthday in a Box”, which helps provide birthday supplies to children whose families can’t afford to celebrate. The idea is simple: each box contains a cake mix, candles, party hats, and other essentials for a birthday party. The boxes are distributed through local schools, ensuring that every child feels special on their big day.
“Every kid deserves a party,” Siebeling explains. This outreach is an excellent example of how ARC churches think outside the box—quite literally—to serve their communities.
Starting Small, Making a Big Impact
One of the main lessons from Siebeling and Rizzo’s conversation is that outreach doesn’t require large teams or huge budgets to begin. Life Church Memphis started with only 60 people, but that didn’t stop them from serving. One of their first outreaches was through an Angel Tree program that provided Christmas gifts to children with incarcerated parents.
“You do what you can with what you have,” Siebeling emphasizes. He encourages churches to take action, no matter their size. This same mindset is at the heart of ARC’s support for new church plants. With over 1,100 churches planted since 2000, ARC helps pastors create life-giving churches that serve their communities.
The Role of Partnerships in Expanding Outreach
The Association of Related Churches succeeds in outreach partly due to its commitment to partnerships. Rather than working alone, ARC churches collaborate with local schools, businesses, and organizations to maximize their impact.
For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Life Church Memphis partnered with Uber Eats and Amazon to continue delivering meals to children even when schools were closed. Partnerships like these allow ARC churches to scale their outreach efforts and reach more people in need.
Dino Rizzo highlights that ARC’s approach isn’t about competing with other churches but about collaboration. “We’re always trying to help other churches, not in competition but in partnership,” Dino says. This collaborative mindset helps ARC churches share resources and ideas, making their work even more effective.
A Lifestyle of Service
What makes ARC’s outreach model stand out is that it isn’t just an event—it’s a way of life. Churches are called to engage with their cities and address the specific needs they see around them, whether that’s poverty, addiction, or homelessness. Siebeling reminds us that Proverbs 11:11 says, “By the blessing of the upright, a city is exalted.” This serves as a reminder that the church’s role is to bless its community spiritually and practically.
If you are a church planter or pastor looking to start or expand your outreach efforts, ARC offers the resources, training, and support to help you turn your vision into reality.
For more information on how to get started, visit ARC Churches.
About the Association of Related Churches (ARC):
The Association of Related Churches (ARC) represents a collaborative network comprising independent congregations from various denominations, networks, and backgrounds. Its primary mission is to provide essential support and resources to church planters and pastors, enabling them to effectively share the teachings of Jesus Christ. ARC’s operational approach revolves around empowering and equipping church leaders, thus helping them foster the widespread dissemination of Christ’s life-changing message. Established in 2000, the Association of Related Churches has evolved into a worldwide entity and has played a pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of over 1,100 new churches globally.